Summary Writing Checklist
This section provides a comprehensive guide for writing effective summaries, an essential skill for the IQB Aufgaben Deutsch and English exams. The checklist is designed to help students create concise, accurate, and well-structured summaries of various text types.
Preparation
Before writing a summary, students should:
- Read the text carefully, highlighting key words and sentences.
- Divide the text into parts or subsections.
- Find an appropriate sentence or keywords to summarize each subsection.
Writing the Introduction
The introductory sentence of a summary should include:
- Author's name
- Title of the text
- Type of text
- Place and date of publication
- Main idea or topic
Example: "The article 'Climate Change: A Global Crisis' by John Smith, published in The Guardian on January 15, 2024, discusses the urgent need for international cooperation to address global warming."
Writing the Main Part
When crafting the main part of the summary, students should:
- Connect the highlighted passages and subsection summaries.
- Focus on essential facts and basic information.
- Use the present tense consistently.
- Employ their own words rather than quoting directly.
- Utilize formal language throughout.
- Use connectives to link sentences and ideas.
Highlight: Always use your own words and avoid direct quotations when writing a summary.
Dos and Don'ts
To ensure a high-quality summary, students should:
Do:
- Include only relevant details
- Use present tense
- Employ formal language
- Focus on basic facts
Don't:
- Include irrelevant details
- Use present progressive tense
- Use quotations or direct speech
- Give personal opinions
- Start analyzing the text
- Try to create suspense
Vocabulary: Present progressive tense - A verb tense used to describe ongoing actions, which should be avoided in summaries in favor of simple present tense.
Language Support
The guide provides helpful phrases for:
-
Introducing the text:
- "The short story/novel/article/poem '[title]' written by [author] in [year]..."
- "The extract from the short story/novel '[title]' by [author]..."
-
Stating the topic or purpose:
- "The text/story is about/shows/presents/depicts/alludes to..."
- "The author criticizes/targets/comments on/exposes the fact that..."
-
Presenting the author's views:
- "According to the author,..."
- "The author believes/claims/emphasizes/states/points out..."
- "From the author's point of view,..."
This comprehensive checklist serves as an invaluable tool for students preparing for their Abitur 2025 RLP themen, helping them master the art of summary writing for both English and German exams.











































